[piano intro] - YOU ALL-- - I WANT TO SEE IF I CAN'T PULL OUT ONE OF THEM REAL-- REAL BIG ONES.

NOW, I HAVE CAUGHT A TWO-POUND CRAPPIE, BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE DONE THAT.

- WELL, I GOT A-- - THERE HE IS.

- THERE HE IS.

I TELL YA MAN-- THAT'S KILLER BECAUSE WHAT IT'S DOING IS THAT THING IS SINKING SO SLOW THEY CAN'T RESIST IT.

- YOU KNOW WHAT'S NICE ABOUT THIS TOO?

THIS IS A 6'6" FLY ROD.

- YEAH, GREAT.

- SO IT'S JUST THE SAME SIZE AS MY OTHER STUFF.

BUT THAT FLY LINE WORKS JUST LIKE A BOBBER.

OOH, THAT'S A NICE ONE.

- YEAH, THAT'S PR-- LOOK AT THAT, MAN.

IS THAT PRETTY?

- THAT'S A NICE FISH THERE.

WHOO.

HE'S NOT QUITE DONE YET.

- HE'S CUTTING UP TOO, ISN'T HE?

- HUH?

- LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S NICE.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER]: THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: - [FEMALE ANNOUNCER]: "WILDLIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA" MAGAZINE HAS BEEN DELIVERING STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY AND INFORMATIVE ARTICLES FOR MORE THAN 80 YEARS.

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FOR ALL YOUR FISHING NEEDS, EZ BAIT & TACKLE.

- AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PBS NORTH CAROLINA VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

[LIGHT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC] ♪ ♪ ♪ - HELLO, AND WELCOME TO THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

TODAY'S PROGRAM IS ABOUT ONE OF MY FAVORITE TYPES OF FISHING.

JOE, IT'S ALL ABOUT CRAPPIES.

- AH, THAT'S WHAT WE GOT FOR YOU TODAY.

AND IT'S-- IT'S DURING A TIME-- WHAT I CALL ONE OF THE TRANSITION PERIODS OF THE YEAR WHERE WE'RE LEAVING THE COOL TEMPERATURES OF FALL, MOVING INTO THE COLDER TIMES OF, UM-- THAT WE'RE GONNA EXPERIENCE IN THE WINTERTIME.

EARLY DECEMBER, FISHING A FARM POND FOR CRAPPIE USING LIGHT-SPINNING GEAR.

IN FACT, ONE OF OUR ANGLERS ACTUALLY PULLS OUT A LIGHT FLY ROD CATCHES A FEW ON THE FLY ROD, BUT USING CRAPPIE JIGS, RIGHT AT THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHERE THINGS ARE GONNA CHANGE A LITTLE BIT AS THE WATER TEMPERATURE DROPS.

IT GETS COLDER.

SO A LOT OF FUN, LOT OF PRETTY CRAPPIE TODAY TOO.

- AND THE CRAPPIE JIGS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN GEAR TIME.

- THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'LL GO BACK TO THE WATER, AND THE GUYS WILL SHARE-- WILL BREAK DOWN THE TYPE OF SPINNING GEAR THEY USED THE TYPE OF JIGS THEY USED-- I SHOULD GIVE YOU A CLOSE-UP LOOK OF THE JIGS THEY USED TODAY.

UM, AND THEY'LL SHARE ALL THAT WITH US.

- AND THEN THE RECIPE TODAY, TROUT CAKES?

- YEAH, DONNA TAKES TROUT AND MIXES IT UP INTO A PATTY AND MAKES SOME CAKES-- REALLY TASTY RECIPE FROM HER.

- WE GOT A LOT GOING ON TODAY SO IT'S TIME TO GO FISHING HERE TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- PAUL, IT'S THE FIRST OF DECEMBER.

THE WATER TEMPERATURE THIS MORNING'S ABOUT 51 ON THE SURFACE AND ABOUT 51 TO 52 DOWN ABOUT 4 FOOT.

IT'S ONLY 2-DEGREE CHANGE.

MAKE--IT'S A SUBTLE CHANGE, BUT IT'LL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY WE FISH AND WHAT WE CATCH AND WHERE WE HAVE TO FISH FOR THEM.

JUST THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CHANGE IN WATER TO THE COMFORT ZONE IS WHERE THEY GONNA BE, AND SOMETIMES THAT MIGHT NOT BE BUT 8/10 OF A DEGREE, BUT IT IS A CHANGE.

LAST NIGHT WAS 28 DEGREES.

THIS TIME OF YEAR IT'S NORMALLY PRETTY COOL AT NIGHT AND IT WARMS UP TO 55, 57-- SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE MORNING.

SO WE GONNA HAVE A GOOD DAY.

THE WIND'S GONNA BE ABOUT 10 OUT OF THE WEST.

WEST IS THE BEST.

AND WE SHOULD HAVE A GOOD DAY AT IT.

AND I'M READY FOR IT.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

- WELL, LET'S HAVE AT IT.

I KNOW WE GOT ENOUGH TACKLE TO PUSH IT INTO THE WATER AND HAVE THE FISH JUMP UP.

- YEAH, WE GOT TWO DEPTH FINDERS, AND WE CAN MARK THE FISH.

AND WHEN WE MARK THEM, WE JUST MARKED A FEW, AND WE CAN GO AFTER CATCHING THEM NOW.

- WE'RE TECHNICALLY ADVANCED FISHERMEN RIGHT NOW.

- ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET THEM.

ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT HIM.

- THERE YOU GO.

- YEAH, THEY-- - MAN, I TELL YOU WHAT.

WHAT MAKES THIS SO GOOD IS WHEN YOU USE THESE-- USE THESE SMALLER RODS.

- YEAH.

- IT MAKES THIS THING FEEL LIKE A BIG OLD BASS.

- YEAH, BUT YOU LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE CRAPPIE THERE.

- WELL, THAT DOESN'T HURT ANYTHING AT ALL.

- I KNOW I MADE A MISTAKE.

I PUT THE FISH BASKET BACK AT ME.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?

- [laughs] - THAT MEANS I LOSE FISHING TIME PUTTING THEM FISH IN THE BASKET-- - IT MEANS YOU'RE THE COLLECTOR.

- YOU'RE A PRETTY SHARP GUY, MAN, YOU-- [laughs] I DON'T USUALLY FALL FOR THAT.

- YEAH.

- NICE CRAPPIE.

- YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

- NICE CRAPPIE.

LET ME PUT THIS-- - WELL, CLIFF, IF YOU COULD PUT IT IN THE BASKET.

I TRY TO KEEP YOU BUSY BACK THERE.

- YEAH, I KNOW.

LAST TIME, YOU THOUGHT THIS OUT REAL GOOD BECAUSE NOW YOU GOT ME PUTTING THE FISH IN.

THAT'S PRETTY.

HE'S A GREAT FILLETER.

THAT FISH IS PROBABLY 15 OUNCES.

SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO A POUND.

- YEP, THAT'S A NICE FISH.

I THINK--I THINK I CAN DO BETTER, THOUGH.

- OH, YEAH.

- IS THAT ONE'S DAD AROUND OR MAMA?

- MAMA'S BIGGER THAN DADDY.

- MAMA'S THE BIGGER ONE.

- YEAH, MAMA'S BIGGER THAN DADDY.

- NOW, IS THAT A BLACK OR A WHITE CRAPPIE?

- THAT'S A BLACK CRAPPIE.

AND THE NEXT ONE WE GET I'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM.

THERE'S AN EASY-- EASY WAY OF DOING IT.

OH--FISH ON, EXCUSE ME.

- MAN, THAT SOUNDS SERIOUS.

- WELL, IT IS.

WELL, I AM SERIOUSLY IN LOVE WITH THESE FISH.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

- THE NICE THING ABOUT CRAPPIE FISHING?

IT'S A LOT OF FISH CATCHING.

- OH, LOOK AT THIS FISH, MAN.

- NICE, NICE, NICE.

- OOH, LOOK AT HIM.

- YEAH, NICE FISH.

- I THINK YOU'RE WINNING RIGHT NOW.

YOU GOT THE BIG FISH POT.

- WELL, HE'S PRETTY-- - THAT'S A NICE FISH.

- OH, YEAH.

THE ONLY TRUE WAY TO IDENTIFY A BLACK CRAPPIE FROM A WHITE CRAPPIE IS THE DORSAL FINS, AND THE NUMBER OF DORSAL FINS THAT THEY HAVE.

ON THE TOP, YOU'D COUNT ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN--AS MANY AS EIGHT.

- OKAY.

- BLACK CRAPPIE'S ALWAYS GONNA HAVE MORE THAN SIX.

WHITE CRAPPIE'S ALWAYS GONNA HAVE FROM FIVE--SIX AND DOWN.

- YOU KNOW WHAT, CLIFF?

IT IS A NICE DAY.

- YEAH, IT IS BEAUTIFUL OUT.

NORMALLY IN DECEMBER YOU WILL HAVE A LITTLE WIND ALONG WITH THE CHILL, BUT TODAY THE WIND'S COOPERATING.

IT'S ABOUT-- - IT'S ABOUT A CRAPPIE.

- EIGHT DEGREES-- I MEAN, EIGHT DEGREES.

EXCUSE ME.

IT'S ABOUT EIGHT MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS, AND THIS IS PRETTY.

- YOU GOT A NICE ONE?

YEAH, IT IS.

YEAH, THE-- - OH YEAH, OH YEAH.

- IT'S NICE WHEN YOU PICK OUT THESE NICE DAYS DURING THE WINTER.

- YUP, AND LIKE I SAY, DUCK HUNT IN THE MORNING, FISH IN THE DAY, DEER HUNT IN THE AFTERNOON.

- YEAH.

- NOW, WHAT COULD BE BETTER?

- GRAND SLAM, TRIFECTA, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

THAT'S THE NICE THING ABOUT OUT HERE TOO, YOU KNOW?

- YEAH.

- I ALREADY SAW A DEER WHEN I WAS LOOKING OVER THE SIDE.

THERE HE IS.

- THAT'S THE FISH.

- HE'S RUNNING.

- YEAH.

- YEAH.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT, YOU KNOW?

I'VE BEEN OUT HERE.

I'VE SEEN A BUCK RUN RIGHT ACROSS IN FRONT OF ME.

- AND IT'S--OH, MAN, THEY'RE HITTING IT AND MISSING IT, HITTING IT AND MISSING IT.

- REALLY?

- YEAH.

THEY'RE SO LIGHT-- HE--OH, MAN, THAT'S TWO IN A ROW.

- COULD YOU DO THIS?

I MEAN, ARE YOU BUSY?

- NO, NO I'M NOT.

NOT AT ALL.

HE PULLED A GOOD ONE ON ME BY LETTING ME GET THIS-- FISH BASKET UP HERE.

- THAT'S TRUE.

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO COOK THEM?

- MY--I PREFER FRYING THEM AND USING A BARBEQUE SAUCE.

- YOU KNOW WHAT'S BAD?

I'M USING A CLIFF JIG.

I'M CATCHING ALL THESE FISH ON A CLIFF JIG.

- WELL, IT COULD BE WORSE.

I GOT THAT WHOLE BOX THAT JUST SAYS "CLIFF JIGS."

- WELL, THE THING ABOUT IT IS, YOU COULD BE FISHING AND NOT CATCHING FISH.

- I NEED SOME SHUEY JIGS.

IS WHAT I NEED.

NOW, YOU SEE, THIS ONE DOESN'T LOOK JUST LIKE YOURS.

SO MAYBE THIS IS A PAUL JIG HERE.

- ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO WITH THAT.

- YEAH.

- I'LL GO THAT WAY.

- I MEAN, THE WHOLE DESIGN THING-- WHO CARES ABOUT THAT ANYWAY?

IT'S JUST WHAT CATCHES, RIGHT?

- THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S WHAT'S CATCHING.

- IT'S LIKE PUTTING STICKERS ON YOUR BOAT.

- [laughs] ALL RIGHT, FISH ON.

- THAT ONE PUT THE BEND IN THE ROD.

- OH, THE ONLY TIME IT'S BETTER THAN THIS IS WHEN YOU'RE EATING THESE THINGS.

- [laughs] - THEY'RE SO--OH, MAN, WHITE, DELICATE MEAT.

IN THE WINTERTIME, THE WATER'S SO-- THE WATER'S SO PRETTY THIS TIME OF YEAR, AND THIS WATER'S PRETTY CLEAR.

- OH, THAT'S A NICE ONE.

- WELL, IT'S A PRETTY FISH.

YEAH.

- MY BAD.

- OH, RIGHT.

- YOU THINK YOU'RE REALLY GOOD.

YOU CATCH A FEW FISH.

AND THEN THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU JUST PULL IT UP TO RECAST AND... - PERDY, MAN.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT FISH.

- YEAH, THAT'S A NICE FISH.

THIS IS RATHER UNCOMPLICATED FISHING RIGHT HERE.

MY FLY ROD.

- THAT'S GREAT.

LITTLE 6-FOOT ROD.

- I'M JUST TRYING TO DO WHATEVER I CAN RIGHT NOW TO ONE-UP YOU AS MUCH AS I CAN SO THAT LATER-- LIKE, IF I CATCH A BASS OR YOU CATCH A BASS... - OH, WELL.

- YOU KNOW?

'CAUSE YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO JUST STOP WHEREVER YOU ARE AND THEN JUST PULL OUT AND CATCH A 5-, 6-POUND BASS OUT HERE AND MAKE ME LOOK BAD.

NOW, THIS?

THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD CRAPPIE ON A FLY ROD.

- THAT'S PRETTY.

THAT'S PRETTY.

- THAT'S NOT BAD RIGHT THERE.

- NO, THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

- HE LIKED IT-- HE LIKED THE GENTLE FLY PRESENTATION IS WHAT IT WAS.

- WHAT IT IS, IT'S A SLOW SINK.

AND IF YOU PUT IT RIGHT IN HIS FACE AND IT STAYS IN HIS FACE LONG... - NOW, I KNOW YOU'RE FISHING, BUT COULD YOU GRAB THAT FISH REAL QUICK FOR ME AND PUT IT IN THE BASKET?

- YOU'RE A PAIN, MAN.

- PLEASE?

THANK YOU.

MAN, I LOVE THIS FLY NOW.

THAT'S PERFECT RIGHT THERE.

I LOVE CATCHING FISH ON A FLY ROD WHEN I CAN.

IT'S NICE WHEN YOU GOT A WHOLE BIG SCHOOL JUST WAITING ON ME LIKE THAT.

- WELL, I THINK THAT REALLY THAT FLY ROD'S A GREAT PRESENTATION THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN IT'S COLD, WHEN IT JUST SINKS SO SLOW-- THAT LITTLE BEAD HEAD ON IT.

- WELL, IT'S NICE TO SEE THE--YOU KNOW, YOU CAN WATCH YOUR FLY LINE AND JUST SEE IT-- IF THAT FLY LINE JUMPS A LITTLE BIT-- - OH YEAH.

- THEN YOU KNOW YOU GOT THEM.

THAT ONE HIT PRETTY QUICK.

YOU WERE SO NICE THERE.

- THE CLOSER YOU FLOAT TO THAT DRAIN PIPE, THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE.

- I WANT TO SEE IF I CAN'T PULL OUT ONE OF THEM REAL-- REAL BIG ONES.

NOW, I HAVE CAUGHT A 2-POUND CRAPPIE, BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE DONE THAT.

- WELL, I GOTTA-- - THERE HE IS.

- THERE HE IS.

I TELL YOU MAN, THAT'S KILLER.

BECAUSE WHAT IT'S DOING IS, THAT THING IS SINKING SO SLOW THAT THEY CAN'T RESIST IT.

- YOU KNOW WHAT'S NICE ABOUT THIS TOO?

THIS IS A 6'6" FLY ROD.

- YEAH?

GREAT.

- SO IT'S JUST THE SAME SIZE AS MY OTHER STUFF.

BUT THAT FLY LINE WORKS JUST LIKE A BOBBER.

OOH, THAT'S A NICE ONE.

- YEAH, THAT'S PR-- LOOK AT THAT, MAN.

IS THAT PRETTY?

- THAT'S A NICE FISH THERE.

WHOO.

HE'S NOT QUITE DONE YET.

- HE'S CUTTING UP TOO, ISN'T HE?

- HUH?

- LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S NICE.

BEAUTIFUL FISH.

- YEAH.

COME ON OVER HERE, BUDDY.

MM-HMM.

- THAT'S ABOUT PRETTY THERE.

- THAT'S A NICE FISH.

- I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

THE WAY THAT THING IS PRESENTING THAT BAIT, IT'S JUST ABOUT A FISH EVERY CATCH, 'CAUSE IT'S JUST GOING RIGHT DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM.

IT'S SO SLOW.

- IT JUST SITS IN HIS FACE.

- IT JUST GOES RIGHT DOWN.

- YOU DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE, DID YOU?

- [laughs] - YOU JUST HAD TO BITE IT.

- I LOVE IT.

LOOK AT THAT.

- THAT'S NICE.

- AND YOU NEED TO REALLY TAKE HIM OUT OF THE POND, YOU KNOW?

- YEAH?

- THEY JUST OVERPOPULATE.

- THAT'S THE GREAT THING ABOUT THAT FISH, 'CAUSE IT'S ONE THAT YOU REALLY SHOULD EAT.

- YEAH, AND YOU CAN'T TAKE TOO MANY OF THEM OUT OF A POND.

YOU REALLY CAN'T.

- CLIFF, WHEN YOU'RE FISHING FOR CRAPPIE, I MEAN HOW DO YOU LIKE TO GET, YOU KNOW, SET UP ON A PIECE OF STRUCTURE?

- WELL, IF IT'S STANDING STRUCTURE LIKE THAT PIPE OVER THERE AND IT GOES VERTICALLY UP AND DOWN 9 OR 10-FOOT, I LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN FISH ALL DIFFERENT DEPTHS.

IF YOU'VE GOT A REAL WIDE HURDLE THAT'S MADE OUT OF WOOD OR SOMETHING ELSE, YOU TEND TO LOSE BAITS, AND YOU ALSO--YOU HAVE TO FISH VERTICALLY UP AND DOWN THEN RIGHT ON TOP OF IT.

YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY THROWING TO IT AND PULLING BACK.

IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION.

YOU HAVE TO ANCHOR AROUND IT AND JUST FISH RIGHT ON TOP OF IT.

WITH THIS ONE, WE CAN THROW A VARIETY OF THINGS AND JUST PULL BACK.

- WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERFECT TYPE OF STRUCTURE, LIKE, IF YOU WERE GONNA MAKE ONE?

- I WOULD MAKE--GO TO ABOUT 10 FOOT OF WATER AND GET ME ABOUT FIVE 6-FOOT PIECES OF PVC, PUT THEM IN THE GROUND REAL GOOD, AND HAVE IT VERTICALLY UP AND DOWN.

HAVE THEM VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, AND THAT WOULD BE MY PERFECT COVER.

NO--YOU GET ON, GET HOOKED UP, AND PULL EVERYTHING THROUGH IT.

- YEAH.

- SO THAT'S KIND OF-- I LIKE STANDING COVER.

- ARE YOU MESSING WITH THE ANCHOR, CLIFF?

- YEAH, YEAH.

- I'M MESSING WITH THE FISH.

- PAUL, I'M PUTTING THE-- - THIS IS A NICE FISH TOO.

- OH, MAN.

- MAN, THIS IS LIKE A CARBON COPY.

THEY'RE ALL ABOUT A POUND, MAYBE THE GOOD ONES ARE 1 1/2 POUNDS RIGHT HERE.

THERE'S A MONSTER DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE.

- OH, YEAH.

THIS--THERE'S ALL-- THIS POND'S GOT SOME PRETTY FISH IN IT.

- THERE WE GO.

- OKAY.

THAT'S PRETTY.

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

NOW, CRAPPIE FEED LOOKING UP.

THEIR EYES ARE PLACED REALLY AT THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD.

AND YOU CAN FISH TOO DEEP FOR THEM, BUT YOU CANNOT REALLY FISH TOO SHALLOW FOR THEM.

ONCE YOU START, I START SHALLOW AND GO DOWN.

AND IF YOU--THIS TIME OF YEAR, YOU WERE PRETTY DEEP.

SEE HOW YOU WERE JIGGING THAT?

- YEAH, I WASN'T DOING MUCH WITH IT.

- AND YOU WERE PULLING IT REAL SLOW.

AND OF COURSE, THEY SLOW DOWN WITH THE WATER TEMPERATURE ALSO.

- OOH, TAKE IT EASY.

IF I CAN GET IT IN HIS MOUTH... - TRY OUTSIDE THE FA-- THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S IT.

YEAH.

- WE HAD A GOOD DAY OF FISHING.

BUT, JOE, THERE WERE SOME ISSUES.

- THERE WERE THAT WE KNEW WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

WE WERE ON THE BACK SIDE OF A COLD FRONT.

SO THE--OF COURSE, THE BAROMETRIC PRESSURE ALWAYS PLAYS INTO THAT.

PLUS, THE WINDS PICKED UP ON US AS WE WERE OUT THERE, BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T SEEM TO AFFECT THE FISH.

THE GUYS HAD FISHED THIS AREA BEFORE AND KNEW IT WELL.

IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF LOCATING THE FISH AND PUTTING THOSE CRAPPIE JIGS TOGETHER USING LIGHT TACKLE.

WE JUST HAD A LOT OF FUN.

- LIGHT TACKLE AND JIGS, LET'S FIND OUT MORE.

LET'S GO TO GEAR TIME.

- WELL, CLIFF, TODAY WE ALL WENT OUT, AND WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF CRAPPIE FISHING.

I THINK WE GOT OUT HERE PRETTY EARLY IN THE MORNING.

WE WENT AROUND AND FOUND A GOOD PIECE OF STRUCTURE, AND WE WORKED IT PRETTY WELL.

I THINK--WELL, WE CAUGHT ABOUT 20, 25.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE WEIGHT WILL BE?

17, 18 OUNCES MAYBE?

- WELL, FROM 12 TO 17, 18 AT THE LARGEST.

- YEAH.

- THESE ARE PRETTY THICK FISH.

- YEAH.

- THEY REALLY ARE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY, EARLY DECEMBER.

THIS MORNING AT 9:00 IT WAS A LITTLE COOL, AND THE WIND WASN'T BLOWING.

AND NOW IT'S PICKED UP AND A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER TO TRY TO FISH OUT HERE TODAY WHEN IT'S-- WIND'S BLOWING LIKE THIS.

BUT THE EARLY MORNING SEEMS TO BE THE TRICK, AND WE CAN GET WHAT WE WANT AND COME BACK AND NOT HAVE TO SPEND ALL DAY DOING IT.

IT JUST IS A FUN TRIP.

REALLY IS A FUN TRIP.

- OH, YEAH, THERE FOR A WHILE, IT WAS ONE AFTER ANOTHER, WASN'T IT?

- YEAH, AND THE THING ABOUT IT'S, WE'RE USING LIGHT TACKLE.

YOU'VE EVEN GOT A SMALLER OUTFIT THAN I HAVE.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE FISHING WITH TODAY--THE SIZE OF IT?

- MINE IS A BEAT-UP SOUTH BEND ROD.

I THINK IT'S A-- LET'S SEE--5 1/2 FEET.

AND THEN THE LINE I LIKE TO USE IS A BRAIDED LINE THAT'S LIGHT, AND THEN I ACTUALLY ATTACH IT TO A LEADER USING A LITTLE LOOP KNOT-- - YEP.

- AND THEN THAT GOES RIGHT TO IT.

AND WHAT IT JUST GIVES ME IS MAYBE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ABILITY TO REALLY FEEL THAT SLIGHT BUMP, YOU KNOW?

- THAT FINESSE.

- WHEN YOU'RE CRAPPIE FISHING, MAN, A LOT OF THOSE TIMES, THAT'S A REAL LIGHT BUMP, AND I LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FEEL THAT IF I CAN.

THIS HAS WORKED OUT REAL WELL BECAUSE I ALMOST NEVER HAVE TO CHANGE THIS LINE.

- YEAH.

- YOU KNOW?

THE ONLY THING I CHANGE IS MY LEADER ONCE IN A WHILE.

I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST-- IT'S LIKE PUTTING A LEADER ON A FLY ROD.

- PLUS, IT'LL ALLOW YOU TO CATCH A LITTLE LARGER BASS.

IT'S MUCH TOUGHER TO BREAK THAT LINE.

- OH, YEAH.

- I HAVE LOST SOME REALLY NICE BASS FISHING FOR CRAPPIE WITH A JIG SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WILL HIT THIS BAIT.

NOW THIS-- THE LINE I USE IS MONO, AND IT'S ABOUT FOUR-POUND TEST.

THAT'S ABOUT INVISIBLE UNDERWATER.

AND IT'S--I CAN WATCH THE LINE ON TOP OF THE WATER AND SEE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF HIT.

AND WHERE YOU'RE USING FINESSE TOUCH FEEL, I'M WATCHING THE LINE A LITTLE CLOSER AND WATCHING THE DOT OF THE LINE.

BUT THE TWO JIGS ARE BASICALLY JUST THE SAME TYPE OF JIG, JUST DIFFERENT COLORS.

MINE'S A FOUR COLORS, AND YOURS IS, I THINK, THREE COLOR JIG?

- YEAH, I'VE GOT THE SAME THREE COLOR JIG.

SEE, THIS IS YOUR-- THE CLIFF JIG HERE.

- YEAH.

THIS IS HIS SPECIAL "DOO-WOP-BOOP."

THE ONLY THING I COULD DO TO TRY TO TOUCH IT UP WAS CHANGE MY COLORS A LITTLE BIT.

CLIFF SWEARS BY THE COLORS THAT ARE ON THAT.

AND THEN WHAT I'VE TAKEN HERE IS, I'VE ACTUALLY GOT A LITTLE CLIFF JIG KIT.

AND ON THAT CLIFF JIG KIT, I'VE PROBABLY GOT ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT COLORS.

I'LL TAKE MY KIDS OUT FOR CRAPPIE FISHING, AND THEY'LL PICK A COLOR.

THIS IS MORGAN'S COLOR, I THINK.

- YEAH.

- AND CASEY WENT RIGHT AFTER IT-- RIGHT AFTER IT-- RIGHT AFTER MORGAN CAUGHT A LOT OF FISH WITH IT.

AND THIS IS JUST PROBABLY THE BEST ONE ON MY POND SO THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IT OUT HERE TODAY, AND IT SEEMED TO DO JUST FINE.

- IT WORKED GOOD.

IT WORKED REALLY-- I THINK TODAY WAS MORE THE WAY THE PLUG MOVED AND NOT SO MUCH THE COLOR OF IT.

- SO DO I.

- THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT DAY.

I'D LIKE TO SPEND 1,000 MORE LIKE IT WITH YOU.

- YEAH, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

IT BEATS-- - I REALLY ENJOYED IT, MAN.

GLAD WE COULD FISH TOGETHER.

- A WINNER DAY.

- WELL, WE HOPE YOU FIND THAT INFORMATION VALUABLE, AND WE HOPE YOU CAN USE IT THE NEXT TIME YOU GO CRAPPIE FISHING.

AND AS ALWAYS, IT SEEMS LIKE CRAPPIE FISHING IN NORTH CAROLINA-- IF YOU CAN FIND THE FISH, IT MAKES FOR A GREAT DAY.

AND SPEAKING OF GREAT THINGS, LET'S CHECK OUT DONNA.

SHE'S GOT A RECIPE FOR TROUT CAKES AS WE HEAD OUT TO THE KITCHEN.

- HI, TODAY IN THE KITCHEN, WE'RE MAKING TROUT CAKES.

AND THIS IS A GREAT RECIPE YOU CAN DO RIGHT AT YOUR CAMPSITE IF YOU'D LIKE.

YOU'RE ONLY GONNA NEED TO USE ONE PAN, BUT I'M GONNA, YOU KNOW, USE A COUPLE JUST TO MAKE IT GO A LITTLE BIT QUICKER.

WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO IS, YOU'RE GONNA HEAT UP YOUR BUTTER OR YOUR OIL IN YOUR PAN, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO ADD ONE ONION THAT WE HAVE CHOPPED.

AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND BRING YOUR ITEMS ALREADY CHOPPED IN BAGGIES TO YOUR CAMP.

SO THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO YOUR PREP RIGHT ON-SITE.

SO WE'RE GONNA STIR ALL THAT TOGETHER AND SAUTE THESE JUST A COUPLE MINUTES UNTIL THEY BECOME SOFT, AND WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON.

SO YOU'RE GONNA SAUTE THOSE.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF WATER TO THIS-- ABOUT A CUP OF WATER.

WE'RE GONNA ADD SOME BOUILLON GRANULARS TO THAT AND STIR THAT TOGETHER, AND A LITTLE WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE, AND A LITTLE RED HOT SAUCE TO THAT.

GET THOSE OUT OF THE WAY.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR TROUT FILLETS AND PLACE THOSE IN OUR MIXTURE.

AND THIS--THESE WILL JUST KIND OF STEAM A LITTLE BIT.

AND WE'RE GONNA PLACE THOSE IN THERE AND LET THOSE COOK FOR ABOUT FIVE-- TEN MINUTES UNTIL THEY'RE THOROUGHLY COOKED THROUGHOUT.

AND THEN WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS TAKE MY SPOON AND JUST KIND OF BREAK THEM UP ONCE THEY'RE COOKED.

AND IF YOU HAVE A LID TO THIS, YOU CAN PUT YOUR LID ON IT, OR YOU CAN JUST PUT A PIECE OF FOIL OVER THE TOP TOO, WHICH WILL HELP KEEP THE STEAM IN AND COOK THEM A LITTLE BIT FASTER.

SO ONCE THEY'RE COOKED THOROUGHLY, WE'RE GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF LEMON JUICE TO THIS AND ABOUT A 1/3 CUP OF CREAM OF CELERY SOUP TO THIS, WHICH WILL HELP THICKEN THIS UP A LITTLE BIT.

AND ALSO, WE'RE GOING TO ADD 2 CUPS OF INSTANT MASHED POTATOES, WHICH WILL MAKE THIS A REALLY THICK DISH, WHICH IS NICE.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE IT FROM THE HEAT AND LET IT COOL FOR ABOUT FIVE OR TEN MINUTES UNTIL YOU CAN TOUCH THE MIXTURE WITH YOUR HANDS, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA FORM THE CAKES.

SO WHAT YOU DO TO FORM YOUR CAKES IS JUST TAKE OUT SOME IN YOUR HAND AND JUST PRESS IT LIKE YOU WOULD MAKING LIKE A HAMBURGER PATTY, BASICALLY.

AND THIS IS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR CAKES.

AND THEN TO FINISH OFF YOUR CAKES, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME--SOME SEAFOOD BREADER, AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR CAKES AND WE'RE JUST GONNA DREDGE THEM INTO OUR BREADER TO GIVE THEM A NICE COAT THAT'LL ADD SOME FLAVOR, AND JUST A LITTLE CRUNCH ON THIS.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO FRY THESE IN OUR OIL.

AND WHAT YOU WILL DO IF YOU'RE ONLY USING THE ONE PAN, YOU WOULD WIPE OUT YOUR PAN, PUT YOUR OIL IN, HEAT THAT UP, AND THEN FRY IN YOUR ONE PAN.

AND THIS WILL TAKE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.

ALL YOU'RE REALLY DOING IS BROWNING THEM.

SO ONCE THAT'S DONE... YOU CAN ADD SOME SLICED CHEESE TO THIS IF YOU'D LIKE OR YOU CAN SERVE THEM WITHOUT.

THIS IS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY'RE FINISHED.

WE ALSO CAN MAKE A SAUCE WITH THE REMAINING CREAM OF CELERY SOUP AND A CAN OF EVAPORATED MILK.

JUST HEAT THAT IN YOUR PAN OR IN A SEPARATE SAUCEPAN, AND THEN POUR THAT OVER IT AS WELL.

BUT I'VE, YOU KNOW, LEFT OFF THE CHEESE ON MINE, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO PUT THE CHEESE ON.

IT'LL MAKE A GREAT-- SERVE IT WITH--IN A-- ON A BUN OR JUST STRAIGHT ON YOUR PLATE IF YOU'D LIKE.

SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE TROUT CAKES, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU HERE NEXT TIME ON SIMPLE COOKING.

- TROUT CAKES SIMPLE RECIPE, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT, DONNA.

JOE, YOU'VE KNOWN ME A LONG TIME, AND I DO ENJOY CRAPPIE FISHING.

ABOVE ALL FISHING, CRAPPIE'S MY FAVORITE.

- YEAH, YOU DO.

YOU DO.

IF I CAN PUT YOU ON CRAPPIE, YOU LIKE TO GO FISHING... - I'M A HAPPY CAMPER.

- AS LONG AS THEY'RE BITING.

- EXACTLY RIGHT.

- BUT TODAY, WE--YOU KNOW, WE CAUGHT SOME PRETTY FISH.

AGAIN, WE HAD A FEW OBSTACLES TO WORK OVER.

MAINLY THE BACK SIDE OF A COLD FRONT, WHICH I GENERALLY DON'T LIKE TO GO FISHING FOR ANYTHING WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BACK SIDE OF A COLD FRONT.

YOU JUST NEVER-- YOU FLIP A COIN.

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA-- IF YOU'RE GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL.

BUT WITH CRAPPIE, GENERALLY, IF YOU CAN-- IF YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, IF YOU CAN FIND THEM, YOU CAN PRESENT, IN THIS CASE, A GOOD-LOOKING ARTIFICIAL JIG TO THEM.

THAT DAY WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T CARRY ANY MINNOWS.

SOMETIMES WE'LL TAKE MINNOWS AS A BACKUP.

BUT THAT DAY WE HAD JUST ARTIFICIAL JIGS, AND IT REALLY WORKED OUT.

AS WE SAID EARLIER, CRAPPIE ARE FOUND ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA.

FOR ANYBODY NEW TO THE STATE, WE'VE GOT THEM IN ALL OF OUR-- MOST OF ALL OF OUR FARM PONDS, MOST OF OUR RESERVOIRS, YOU KNOW, IN THE TRIANGLE AND THE TRIAD.

AND THEN MOST OF OUR RIVERS THAT WE HAVE, HAVE HEALTHY POPULATIONS OF CRAPPIE, AND WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SPECIES OF CRAPPIE: THE WHITE AND THE BLACK.

SO IF YOU'RE NEW TO NORTH CAROLINA AND YOU'RE A CRAPPIE FISHERMAN, WE DO HAVE IT HERE.

IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, GO TO YOUR LOCAL TACKLE SHOP.

MOST OF THEM HAVE PLENTY OF INFORMATION FOR YOU.

AND JUST GO HAVE A LOT OF FUN.

- AND THERE'S ONE THING ABOUT CRAPPIES-- IT'S ALWAYS GOOD ON THE TABLE.

- ONE OF THE BEST.

- FOR JOE ALBEA, I'M JOHN MOORE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY ON THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER]: MAKE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

- THE CAROLINA OUTDOOR JOURNAL IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: - [FEMALE ANNOUNCER]: "WILDLIFE IN NORTH CAROLINA" MAGAZINE HAS BEEN DELIVERING STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY AND INFORMATIVE ARTICLES FOR MORE THAN 80 YEARS.

- [MALE ANNOUNCER]: AND BY EZ BAIT & TACKLE.

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED.

WE FISH FROM FRESH TO SALTWATER.

WE PROVIDE FISHING SUPPLIES AND ADVICE TO EVERY TYPE OF ANGLER.

FOR ALL YOUR FISHING NEEDS, EZ BAIT & TACKLE.

- AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PBS NORTH CAROLINA VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

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